A project involving 16 SA SMEs, 3D design and virtualisation software company Dassault Systèmes, the SA Government, ICT services company ASG, and others, will prepare SA manufacturers for shipbuilding opportunities available only to those with digital capabilities.
The virtual Shipyard development program, supported by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), will identify and help to bridge the capability gaps of the first 16 SMEs, bringing each up to world-class levels of Industry 4.0 maturity.
“This project is a significant investment from all involved, not only in lifting the overall global competitiveness of Australian manufacturing sector but also to successfully bid for manufacturing work in naval shipbuilding opportunities,” AMGC MD Dr Jens Goennemann said.
“As detailed in our Sector Competitiveness Plan, there is a real opportunity to do this through higher participation in global value chains and through increasing productivity through Industry 4.0 processes. It takes our core message that Australian manufacturers need to compete on value, not on cost, to the coalface of industry.”
The goal of increased digital supply chain literacy will see each Australian SME meet a checklist of up to 12 key digital requirements needed to supply tier one defence companies in projects such as the upcoming Future Submarine program.
Dassault will develop a six-month intensive education program followed by a six-month period mentoring each company in applying these new skills and new technologies within their own manufacturing projects. Skill retention will be assisted through future subsidised software from Dassault and ASG Group, an Australian business IT specialist.
The AMGC has contributed $534,000 to co-fund to the project. According to Goennemann, the program will also qualify them to deliver solutions within the digitally-modelled global supply chains of multinational companies.
The first eight out of 16 participants in the Dassault Systèmes Virtual Shipyard Project are:
- LogiCamms Limited
- Ottoway Engineering
- Sudel
- Redarc Electronics
- APC Technology
- Broens SA
- B & R Enclosures
- Mincham Aviation